• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.484-492
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• 1994

Microstructures of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$-doped UO$_2$ pellets have been investigated during sintering under H$_2$ and $CO_2$ atmospheres. Pellets are sintered at 1$700^{\circ}C$ in H$_2$ atmosphere and at 130$0^{\circ}C$ in $CO_2$ atmosphere for 1 to 41 hr. The addison of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ causes the formation of large pores, which shrink to some extent in H$_2$ atmosphere but very little in $CO_2$. Fine pores in the Nb$_2$O$_{5}$-doped UO$_2$ pellet are almost annihilated when sintered under H$_2$ atmosphere but little changed under $CO_2$ atmosphere. The increase in grain size due to Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ addition is much larger in H$_2$ atmosphere than in $CO_2$. Thus the enhancement of uranium diffusion in UO$_2$ due to the Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ addition is thought to be more significant in H$_2$ atmosphere. Microstructures of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$-doped UO$_2$ pellets sintered in H$_2$ atmosphere are discussed from the viewpoint of in-reactor performance. Possible defects formation due to Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ addition is discussed to explain the enhancement of uranium diffusion in H$_2$ and $CO_2$ atmospheres.> atmospheres.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 1997

The variation of sintered density and fain size in ex-AUC, ex-ADU and granulated ex-ADU UO$_2$ pellets in which 0.1~1.0wt% Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ were doped were examined. Pellets were sintered in an atmosphere of H$_2$ at 1$700^{\circ}C$ for 4h. All the specimens tested shooed more than 94% T.D.(Theoretical Density). Sintered density decreased with increasing the amount of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$. Powder types had little influence on the sintered density. Pore size distribution was shifted to the larger ones as Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ was added. The increase of total pore volume and grain growth due to the addition of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ were thought to be the cause of the sintered density decrease. The largest grain size was seen in the 1. 0wt% Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ doped ex-AUC UO$_2$ pellets. Their average size was 13.9 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$.m}$.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.458-466
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• 1996

The effects of dopants on the modification of microstructure of UO$_2$ and UO$_2$-4wt%CeO$_2$ sintered pellets have been studied in hydrogen and $CO_2$/CO mixture atmospheres by using $Ta_2O_5$, TiO$_2$ and $Nb_2O_5$ as sintering additives. The dopant were added as oxide powders and homogenized by attrition milling. The mixed powders were pressed, and then sintered in hydrogen at 1$700^{\circ}C$ , or in oxidizing atmosphere using Controlled $CO_2$/CO mixtures at 125$0^{\circ}C$. Both density and microstructure of UO$_2$ are modified by the addition of dopants in reducing atmosphere. The sintered density is increased with $Ta_2O_5$ addition up to 0.33wt% and subsequently decreased with higher content of the additive. The effect on the densification and the gain growth are apparent with the addition of 0.24wt% $Nb_2O_5$. With 0.lwt% titania and 0.6wt% $Ta_2O_5$, the sintered density is decreased, but the grain size is increased. In oxidizing atmosphere, the grain sizes for UO$_2$ doped with the above additives are smaller than that for pure UO$_2$. The grain size of Ta or Nb-doped UO$_2$ is decreased with increasing $CO_2$/CO ratio, but that of pure UO$_2$or T-doped UO$_2$ is increased. A large portion of second phases is observed in UO$_2$ doped with 0.lwt% TiO$_2$ sintered in hydrogen atmosphere, while, in $CO_2$/CO atmospheres, the second phases or dopant agglomerates are not observed. For UO$_2$-4wt%CeO$_2$ mixed oxide, the effect of additives on the gain growth is not so much as that for the pure UO$_2$. This is attributed to the formation of clusters by dopant cations and Ce ions, so that the additives contribute to a lesser exent to the grain growth for the mixed oxide.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.660-664
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• 2000

Effect of various kinds of additive such as AlOOH, Al(OH)3, Al2Si2O5(OH)4, Nb2O5, TiO2 and MgO on the properties and microstructures of UO2 pellet has been examined. All the tested dopants had played a role to reduce sintered density and open porosity. It was revealed that the addition of TiO2 made pellet more stable thermally. UO2 pellet doped with 0.2wt% TiO2 was swelled rather than densified after annealing for 24 hrs at 1$700^{\circ}C$. It was attributed to large pore with spherical shape. Titinia and silicon coexisted with Al element were more effective to increase grain size than other additives. It could be also revealed that the formation of liquid phase was the main cause of grain growth.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.335-343
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• 1999

The effects of N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ and oxygen potential on the densification and grain growth of U $O_2$ fuel have been investigated.0.3 wt% N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ -doped U $O_2$fuel pellets were sintered at 1$700^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours in sintering atmospheres which have various ratios of $H_2O$ to $H_2$ gas. Compared with those of undoped U $O_2$ pellets, the sintered density and grain size of the 0.3 wt% N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ -doped U $O_2$ pellet increase under the $H_2O$/ $H_2$ gas ratio of 5.0$\times$10$^{-3}$ to 1.0$\times$10$^{-2}$ and under the $H_2O$/ $H_2$gas ratio of 5.0$\times$10$^{-3}$ to $1.5\times$10$^{-2}$ , respectively. The sintering of U $O_2$fuel pellets containing 0.1 wt% to 0.5 wt% N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ was carried out at 168$0^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours. The enhancing effect of N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ on the sintered density and grain size becomes larger as the N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ content increases. The solubility limit of N $b_2$ $O_{5}$ in U $O_{2}$ seems to be between 0.3 wt% and 0.5 wt%, and beyond the solubility limit the second phase whose composition corresponds near to N $b_2$U $O_{6}$ is precipitated on grain boundary. The enhancement of densification and grain growth in U $O_2$ is attributed to the increased concentration of a uranium vacancy which is formed by the interstitial N $b^{4+}$ ion in the U $O_2$ lattice.